Indigenous folklore conference held in Bandarban

The Indigenous Folksong Conference--- the first of its kind-- was held in the hill town of Bandarban on Friday, with great enthusiasm.
Supported by the Bandarban Hill District Concil (BHDC), Bandarban Tribal Culture Institute organised the event in the Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT), at its auditorium.
Professor Thanjama Lusai, chairman of Bandarban Hill District Council, inaugurated the conference.
Unu Shoi Prue, councilor of BHDC, Chahala Prue Zimi, eldest son of nonagenarian Bomang Circle Chief (Bomang King) Aung Shoi Prue Chowdhury, director of TCI Moung Nu Singh and president of Bandarban Press Club Mohmmad Badsha Miah addressed the function as special guests.
|There are 11 ethnic communities, scattered throughout the CHT region, who speak in 10 dialects and have been living in the area since time immemorial. These are Chakma, Marma, Tangchangya, Tripura, Bawm, Lusai, Khiyang, Khumi, Mro, Pankhua and Chak.
Indigenous folklore artistes from remote hilly areas took part joyously and performed different folk songs as well as dances in the conference. The prominent items were Gangkhuli performed by Chakma artistes, Rachamu from Tripura, Uba-pala geet by Tangchangya, Bandala-Atungla by Bawm and Chayagang-kapya by Marma artistes.
Professor Thanjama Lusai in his speech said the CHT is a culturally rich region for ethnic communities. He said such a conference featuring indigenous folksong-dance was organised to practice and uphold the indigenous culture and tradition as well as to introduce it to the international community.
Folk songs of ethnic people would become more popular in our country like Bangla folk songs--Baul, Bhatiali, Bhawiya and Lalon among others --with proper support and patronage, he added.
“Many of our people are acquainted with folk songs like me. But our siblings are less fortunate due to lack of practice. Even as we grow older we are rapidly losing this rich cultural heritage," said Hadu Moni Tripura, a folk song artiste to this correspondent.